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Morganton


Picture
Historic Court House
Mountain beauty, mysterious lights, and a very early history make Morganton an intriguing place to visit.  Add to that the hospitality of the town's residents and a varied, ongoing calendar of events, and you'll soon see why Morganton earned a spot as one of the best small towns in the south.

Located in Burke County, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, there are plenty of parks and forest areas to enjoy nature and outdoor activities.

In Morganton's Historic Downtown, there is always something going on.  Popular events include TGIF, a free concert series on Friday nights that runs from May through July;  the Farmer's Market, runs May - October; and Cruzin' on the Square, a Thursday evening gathering to show off and see classic cars.  The Historic Morganton Festival in September and Halloween Spooktacular in October are two events offered annually.

Joara, a settlement established around 1000 AD by Native Americans living a Mississippian (mound-building) culture, is an
important archaeological and historic site near Morganton.  Joara was also the site of Fort San Juan, established by Spanish explorer Juan Pardo in 1567 -  almost 20 years before Roanoke Island's Lost Colony.
 
And be sure to ask any Morganton local about the Brown Mountain Lights, a  phenomenon, seen by many for centuries.  Tales of the lights are heard in Cherokee and Catawba lore that dates back as far as 1200.

On clear nights, head north on Highway 181 from Morganton, drive to the parking area at Milepost 20 and look for the lights to appear on Brown Mountain.  Tip: If you plan to check it out, go early to get a spot because the parking area fills up fast.    
Watch WCNC Charlotte's story about the  lights:



See it in Morganton

Picture
Picture
Lake James State Park


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 Copyright © 2009  ncgypsy.com /  Barbara Dolny-Bombar, BDB Communications    All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • NC Outer Banks
    • Corolla
    • Duck
    • Hatteras Island
    • Kill Devil Hills
    • Kitty Hawk
    • Nags Head
    • Roanoke Island
  • NC Coast
    • Atlantic Beach
    • Carolina Beach
    • Kure Beach >
      • Fort Fisher
    • New Bern
    • Wilmington >
      • Battleship North Carolina
    • Wrightsville Beach
  • NC Heartland
    • Apex
    • Cary
    • Chapel Hill >
      • Aveda Institute
      • Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
    • Charlotte
    • Durham >
      • American Tobacco Historic District
      • Duke Homestead and Tobacco Museum
      • Duke Lemur Center
      • Durham Bulls Baseball
      • Historic Stagville >
        • Historic Stagville Family Tree Project
      • NC Museum of Life and Science
      • Sarah P Duke Gardens
    • Fayetteville
    • Greensboro >
      • International Civil Rights Center and Museum
    • Hillsborough >
      • The Shops at Daniel Boone
    • Kernersville >
      • Korners Folly Strangest House in the World
    • Mount Airy >
      • Andy Griffith Museum >
        • Meet Betty Lynn at the Andy Griffith Museum
    • Pittsboro
    • Raleigh >
      • Raleigh Capital District
      • NC Museum of Natural Sciences
    • Seagrove
    • Selma >
      • Spend a Day in Selma
    • Smithfield >
      • Ava Gardner Museum >
        • Ava Gardner Festival
      • Carolina Premium Outlets
    • Wake Forest
    • Winston Salem >
      • OId Salem Historic District >
        • C Winkler Bakery
    • Piedmont Cemeteries
    • Piedmont Labyrinths
    • Piedmont Sandhills Road Trip
  • NC Mountains
    • Asheville >
      • Biltmore Estate >
        • Biltmore Christmas
        • Biltmore Festival of Flowers
      • Mount Mitchell NC Scenic Byway
    • Cherokee
    • Morganton >
      • Horseback Riding at Poco Rhythm Mountain Retreat
    • NC Mountains Visitor Guide
    • NC Transportation Museum
    • Shadow of the Bear
  • NC People
  • Motorcycling NC
    • Coastal Plains
    • Piedmont Heartland Region
    • Appalachian Mountains
    • Great Smoky Mountains
  • Farmers Markets
  • Festivals and Events
  • Film and TV
    • NC Film Preservation
    • North Carolina Film
    • Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
  • Haunted NC
    • Haunted Outer Banks >
      • Haunted NC Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
    • Haunted Coast >
      • Haunted NC Battleship North Carolina
      • Haunted NC Blackbeard Hammock House
      • Haunted NC Old Burying Ground Cemetery
    • Haunted Heartland >
      • Haunted NC Korners Folly
      • Haunted NC Stagville Plantation
    • Haunted Mountains >
      • Haunted NC Biltmore Estate
      • Haunted NC Brown Mountain Lights
  • Hurricane Safety Tips
  • Pet Friendly Travel
  • About Me
  • BLOG
  • Contact
  • Links
  • Learn Online